Could Lassine Sinayoko Swap Beloved Auxerre for La Liga in January?

Lassine Sinayoko is Auxerre through and through — but could the lure of a move to Spain persuade the Mali international to seek a January exit?

Is Spain next on Sinayoko’s demanding schedule?

The academy graduate is currently Auxerre’s leading scorer this season with six goals and is now being linked with a trio of La Liga clubs — Girona, Sevilla and Valencia.

A move to Girona would be a particularly intriguing option. Míchel’s side are pushing to re-establish themselves as Champions League contenders after Girona’s recent La Liga struggles played a role in the club’s decline.

Sinayoko can operate across the entire front line — primarily as a striker, but also on either wing or as a supporting forward.

That versatility has seemingly attracted interest from clubs across Europe. The forward, who is currently away with Mali at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, is also out of contract at the end of the season.

With Mali having qualified for the knockout stages, Sinayoko — who scored twice in the group phase — will not return to club duty until late January.

However, that does not rule out a potential move away from the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps before deadline day.

A return to Ligue 2 without Sinayoko?

With no contract extension agreed and his current deal expiring in the summer, Sinayoko’s rise from Auxerre’s Under-19s setup could soon be coming to an end.

That would be a major blow for Auxerre, who are currently battling to preserve their Ligue 1 status.

According to Transfermarkt, Sinayoko’s market value sits at just over £6 million — a figure that could tempt Auxerre into cashing in during January.

However, the club may opt to retain him. Auxerre currently occupy the 2025/26 Ligue 1 relegation play-off position, having recorded just three wins so far (D3, L10). Only bottom-placed Metz have suffered more defeats.

Sinayoko is also just one goal away from reaching 50 goals for Auxerre across all competitions since making his senior debut in April 2021.

While that milestone appears likely, the prospect of him reaching a century of goals for the club looks increasingly remote.

Could losing their star striker prove decisive?

Auxerre’s reliance on Sinayoko is further underlined by the lack of alternative goal threats.

The club’s next-highest Ligue 1 scorer this season is on-loan Porto forward Danny Namaso, who has found the net only twice.

Several other players — including Kévin Danois, Francisco Sierralta, Oussama El Azzouzi and Sinaly Diomandé — have scored just once.

Given those numbers, Auxerre are likely to push hard to secure Sinayoko’s services for at least another season.

Whether that proves possible may ultimately determine whether the club can avoid a damaging return to Ligue 2.